“Do you need an Education, Health and Care plan to receive home-to-school transport on SEN grounds?” was one of the questions posed at the start of the SEND Law in Practice conference, hosted by the Liverpool Law Clinic at the University of Liverpool in March, with sponsorship from Irwin Mitchell.
What stood out straight away was how mixed the responses were. It showed how much confusion still exists around children’s legal rights within the special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) system and why events like this are so important.
The conference brought together parents, educators, legal professionals and students to explore key issues in SEND law. As a student volunteer at the Liverpool Law Clinic, I found it really rewarding to see so many different people come together and engage with the topic.
Understanding sensory and communication needs
The first session was delivered by Christina Beaumont from The Brain Charity and Nicola Fielden, a Speech and Language Therapist. Christina spoke about sensory differences in neurodivergent children and how these can affect everyday life for both children and their families.
Nicola focused on speech, language and communication needs, and the importance of early support. One thing that really stayed with me was how closely linked legal, educational and health support are. It made me realise that supporting children with SEND is not just about knowing the law, but about understanding the wider challenges families face.
The role of the Law Clinic
One of the most meaningful parts of the day was the presentation from student volunteers in the Law Clinic SEND team. They explained the support the clinic provides to families navigating the SEND system.
This was made even more powerful by Sarah Rutland, a parent who had received help from the clinic, sharing her experience. Hearing how legal advice had made a real difference to her family made the work feel very real. It reminded me why access to clear and practical legal support is so important.
Tribunal appeals and SEND legal practice
Ryan Westwell from Irwin Mitchell delivered a session on SEND Tribunal appeals, explaining how the process works and what families can do when challenging decisions. I found this really helpful because it broke down what can feel like a complicated legal process into something much clearer.
Later in the day, Ollie Persey from Garden Court Chambers spoke about recent SEND case law and how legal decisions are shaping the system. Lucy Atherton from Irwin Mitchell also discussed the duties owed to children with SEND when they are out of school, highlighting both the legal responsibilities and the difficulties families often face in practice.
Panel discussion on the SEND White Paper
The conference ended with a panel discussion chaired by Professor Amel Alghrani, with contributions from Lucy Atherton, Ollie Persey and James Betts. They discussed the SEND White Paper and what the proposed reforms could mean in practice.
I found it interesting to hear different perspectives on the same issue, especially how these changes might actually affect families and local authorities. The questions from the audience also made it feel more like a conversation rather than just a series of talks.
Reflections on the day
Overall, the conference was really insightful and showed how important it is for different professionals and families to work together. Being involved in organising the event and seeing it come together on the day was such a rewarding experience, and it has made me more interested in areas of law that have a direct impact on people’s lives.
With the proposed SEND reforms placing more focus on collaboration between families, schools and local authorities, having a shared understanding of the law will become even more important. Events like this help to build that understanding and create space for people to learn from each other.
It also made me think about how SEND law can be made more accessible for families who need it. The work of the Liverpool Law Clinic, and events like this, are a really positive step towards that, and hopefully encourage more people to engage with these issues in the future.
About the author
Marisa Mistry is a final-year Law with Politics LLB (Hons) student at the University of Liverpool Law School and a student volunteer at the Liverpool Law Clinic.